Yeah, I tend to have this problem with my Bengal too. Sometimes I'll be petting Missy and we'll be having a nice time together (or so I thought), and all of a sudden she decides to take a nice chomp on my hand. I tell her no, and she keeps lunging back at me. I think the cats think they are playing, and Bengals have a tendancy to be a bit high-strung, thus accounting for the aggressiveness.

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In loving memory of Lucy, one of the sweetest cats ever.

In my experience, it is their way of establishing hierarchy and boundaries. Nothing a good "NO!" cant cure... immediately stop interacting so they understand that biting will end the playing.

Of course if you are doing something aggressive, expect them to reciprocate.... I have one bengal who actually LOVES rough playing and will endure anything and never even hiss or nip.... but the second one will try to bite if you so much as stare at her too long.

This topic hit home, because my male Bengal is exactly like this... very agressive play, biting, scratching, but all without hissing or growling. Just like Missy, I could be petting him, and all of a sudden he latches onto my arm or leg and just goes to town. He's rendered many a scar on me, one of them running from my inner finger to my elbow. And the more you try to pull him off, the harder he bites and holds on. lol I honestly think he's playing, but it really is a bit much sometimes. For the 10 months we've had him, I'd have to say the last 5 have been like this... no amount of "NO" or water squirt bottle has done the trick. His favorite attack is leaping from his cat condo onto my head. He'll wrap his paws around my face, bite my head, and then launch away in another direction. (One of the reasons we don't allow him to sleep in our bedroom anymore, he would do the same thing to me in the middle of the night) He doesn't do any of this to my husband, only me!

Hi LMM

That sounds very sore indeed. I know a Bengal isn't exactly an exotic cat but some of the techniques used may be relevant here.
See http://www.exoticcatz.com/btplaybiting.html

My Bengal went through a brief spell of grabbing my hand or foot and not letting go and scratching with his back feet. No! , hissing very loudly and not moving my hand/foot at all and throwing something more interesting away from me, diverted his attention until I could extricate my hand. I then refused to interact with him for a while after.
Also loads of playing with a fishing rod toy before you get into that situation I think diverted his hunting attention away from me and my hands and feet. This worked and he hasn't done it since. (He never hissed or growled like Jen's cat, though.)

Is he neutered? If not then I would advise this as some of the behaviour may be hormonal.

I agree with Jeff it is a challenging boundaries issue and some do really like to play rough. He does this to you and not your husband because he knows he can get away with it with you. You really need to sort this out before you get seriously injured.

Elsa

Thanks so much for the link Elsa, it was very helpful. Crazy, Missy behaves just like some of the exotic cats described! I'm definitely going to try some of their suggestions. I think the thing I have to remember when she bites me is to NOT get angry, which seems to fuel her even more. Same thing with yanking my foot/hand away. We'll see what happens!

Thanks again!

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In loving memory of Lucy, one of the sweetest cats ever.

Oh wow! I read through that link, and everything she described is exactly what I have been going through! I am saving the page, and will read it with my husband tonight. I will try her suggestions and see if we can make some progress.

What I noticed especially, is how it states to NOT react to the biting, or attacks. The whole "standing still" effect only sometimes works for me, other times I am not so lucky. I think this is one of the reasons why Leo has never really done this type of thing to my husband, because he gets no reaction out of him. Me, on the other hand, I will literally chase him around the house (I've never hurt him, but I thought I could at least convey that I didn't like what he was doing). Now I find I'm doing just the opposite! He figures, ok, if I bite mommy, she will play with me! LOL So that is something I will need to work on. It can be very difficult to not react, especially with such a strong cat. Every time he bites my leg, he leaves 4 holes and an oval-shaped bruise. lol

I have told my husband I'd love to get him a playmate. We were considering a female silver marble, but we'll have to postpone that until we buy our house. Hopefully within the next 6 months.

Hi LMM

It is early days for your two, but he does seem to be giving her a hard time, I just saw your photos on the gallery. Her little face says it all.

I think they will probably be OK in the long run but I would try and stop him biting her and taking bits of fur out of her and personally I wouldn't leave them alone together not until this is a bit more sorted out.

Playing and fake fighting is OK but when it gets serious then you may end up with her getting infected from the bites/scratches, or even getting an abscess. I think this biting of the neck is a sexual thing, even although he is neutered, and I may be wrong but personally I would split them up when things get serious, and let him know he is doing the wrong thing and that that behaviour won't be tolerated. (I don't mean physical punishment) just make a noise and chase him away from her.
I think from what you say, it could end up with long term bullying if it is not nipped in the bud. I don't mean split them up entirely only when he is being particularly mean.

She obviously doesn't feel capable of taking him on, so I think you have to protect her in these early days.

Elsa

Hi LMM,

I've been thinking about Leo's behavior these passed couple of days and have been trying to come up with a solution. Elsa mentioned the bit about biting her neck and making it sore. I wonder if there is a citrus spray you could spray on her neck so that when Leo attempts to jump on her he'll get a disgusting taste in his mouth. Bello would be ok because she can't lick herself there but it might be great if it deters Leo from biting her.

Then thinking about it poor Bella would be able to smell it in which would then be cruel if she can't get away from the smell. Perhaps the nail bite treatment could stop him. here is a link
http://www.stopbitingnails.com/
it's all natural ingredients too :
http://www.stopbitingnails.com/ingredients.htm

Does anyone else have any tips to deter Leo biting poor Bella's neck

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All the Best
Elaine Lomax
www.wildside-bengals.com

Wow... my boy is not aggressive at all! Maybe I got lucky?

I used to even walk him in the courtyard where I used to live, where a lot of people would walk by. Often with children.

He'd run up and greet everyone he saw, and even let the kids touch his stomache (he'd roll over ), his feet, his tail - he didn't care.

He has never bitten me - ever. Sure, he'll do the little play bite if I play kind of rough with him, but you can barely feel that.

The only time his claws come into play is if I pick him up - he goes all stiff legged til you put him down, lol... but he never scratches on purpose.

I have two non-bengal female cats that CAN be mean, on the other hand!

AWWW... my boy is on his back in a sun spot on the carpet. CUTE!

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- Dawn

http://www.nutkitty.com